Krishnastu Svayam Bhagavan

Golden Group presentation Sri Meenakshi Temple September 11,2016

Arun K. Mukhopadhyay

PRAYER: 1

Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurudevo Mahesvarah

Guru Sakshat Param Brahma Tasmayi Sri Gurave Namah

Krishnastu Svayam Bhagavan (Srimad Bhagavatam: 1.3.28)

Lierally it means that Bhagavatva, the authority of Bhagavan is fully expressed in Krishna. “Ramadi murtisu kala-niyamana tisthan”:(Brahma Samhita): means partial expression of His Power.

PRAYER :2 Kripa-karam kshama-karam muda-karam yashas-karam Manas-karam namas-kritaam namas-karomi bhasvaram

Concept of Avataras: Dasavataras (Bhagavad Gita: Yada yada..4.7)

“Yada Yada hi Dharmasya Glanir bhavati Bharata Abhyuthanam Dharmasya Tad Atmanam Sriyamyaham”

There is no Limit to the Number of Avataras

Srimad Bhagavatam: (1.3.26-27) “Innumerable are the descendants(Avataras) of Hari who is absolutely pure in His essence. They are as numerous as waterways streaming out of a perennial lake. The Rishis, Manus, the sons of Manus and powerful Prajapatis- all are Kalas or particles of Hari.”

Bhagavatam discussion on Avatataras (Canto 1. 3.28)

“ ete cha amsa-kalah pumsah krushnastu bhagavan svayam. Indra-ari vyaakulam lokam mrudayanti yuge yuge” Srimad Bhagavatam:1.3.28( Swami Tapsyananada) “While all these are the parts and particles of the Supreme Being, Krishna is He, the Bhagavan Himself. Krishna is the full revelation of the Lord. Others come from age to age for the relief of the world from the sufferings caused by particular sets of Asuras.”

Concept of Purnavatara (Brahma Samhita:5.39)

ishvaraha parama krishnaha sac-chid-ananda-vigraha

anadir adi govindaha sarva-karana-karanam

Krsna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead.

He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all,

and He is the prime cause of all causes.

Meaning of the word “Govinda

1. Who pervades the whole Creation 2. One who protects the world 3. Finder and protector of the “Vedas” 4. Protector of Cows 5. Master of the senses

Meaning of the Word Bhagavan (Bhaga=Supreme Opulence; Van=endowed with)

Bhagvan is a term made of two different words, bhaga and van. Bhaga generally means supreme opulence. The Vishnu Purana defines bhaga as below: aiśvaryasya samagrasya dharmasya yaśasariśrayaḥjñānavairāgyayoścaiva ṣaṇṇāṃ bhaga itīraṇā (VP - 6.5.74) Meaning Complete splendor, virtue, glory, opulence, knowledge, dispassion - these six are known as bhaga.

Symbolic significance of the word Bhagavan

Bh= Bhoomi: Earth A= Agni:Fire

G= Gagan: Sky/Space V=Vayu: Air

N=Neer: Water

Meaning of Bhagavan (Vishnu Purana)

Bhagavan means the Omniscient Being who has complete control of the entire process of Creation, Dissolution, and Maintenance. He also is the Origin of all knowledge, and is the final Destination of all created beings. utpattiṃ pralayaṃ caiva bhūtānāmāgatiṃ gatimvettiṃ vidyāmavidyāṃ ca sa vācyo bhagavāniti (VP - 6.5.78)

Bhaja Govindam

Srimad Adi Shankaracharya Bhagavadpada has composed the Bhaja Govindam during his famous pilgrimage to Kashi (Benares). The fourteen disciples are said to have accompanied him. The story goes that when he was walking along the streets of Kashi, he was pained to observe an elderly man trying hard to learn Sanskrit grammar. At his advanced age, the remaining valuable little time of his life should have been used for worshipping the God, instead of wasting on learning a language. This prompted Sri Sankara to burst out this composition, a sort of rebuke to foolish way of living

Bhaja Govindam: Sloka 1

Bhajagovindam bhajagovindam Govindam bhaja muudhamate . Sampraapte sannihite kaale nahi nahi rakshati Dukrijnkarane .. (1) Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda. Oh fool! Rules of Grammar will not save you at the time of your death.

Sr Krishna’ birth (‘Devaki Paramanandam’)

Vasudeva the father taking Krishna to Mathura

Krishna as butter thief “Hari Sundara nanda mukunda Hari Narayana Hari Om

Hari keshava Hari Govinda, Hari Narayana Hari Om”

Image of Sree Krishna: “Banamali Murali dhari, Govardhana Girivara dhari

China China kar makhan chori gopi man hari”

Krishna as Gopala/Govinda

Krishna in Brindavana (Brindavana madan mohana rupa

Radha Vallabha Hare Murare)

Krishna fights with Kamsa (‘Kamsa chanra mardanam’)

Krishna killing ‘Kalia’

Krishna: Govardhana giri dhari

Krishna embracing an Kuchela/Sudama

Krishna with Gopis

Radha Krishna

Krishna in the middle of the War

Krishna blew His conchshell

Krishna: Panchajanya Arjuna: Devadatta

Krishna and Arjuna in the war

Krishna teaching Arjuna (karmani eva adhikaraste ma phalesu kadachana

ma karma phala hetur bhur ma te sango astu akarmani)

Krishna shows His Visvarupam (Tvam Adi deva purusah puranas

Tvam asya visyasya param nidhanam)

Krishna and Pandavas with Bhisma ( Origin of Sahasranama from Bhisma Pitamaha)

Vishnu Sahasranama: sloka:13

Rudro Bahushira Babhruh Vishvayonih Suchishravah Amrutah Sasvata Sthanuh Vararoho Mahatapah ( VS.13)

Sahasranama: sloaka 13 has nine names

This Shloka contains the following 9 Namas: 115. Rudrah: destroys misery of devotees 116. Bahushirah: with many(thousands) heads 117. Babhruh: One who supports the world 118. Vishvayonih: great unifier 119. Suchishravah: Listens to pure words 120. Amritah: Nector 121. Sasvata-sthanu: Eternal/stable 122. Vararohah: Object of attainment 123. Mahatapah: endowed with great knowledge

Meaning of Rudra

One way of interpreting this is “Rudam dadaati iti Rudrah– He confers good things” or “Ruh draavayati iti Rudrah – He eliminates devotees’ miseries.” Shiva Puraana says “Rur Duhkham Duhkhahetum vaa Tad Draavayati yah Parabhuh, Rudra ityuchyate Tasmaat Shivah Paramakaaranam – He is called Rudrah because he liquidates all our sorrows and their causes.”

Krishna is God Himself (Bh. Gita 10:12-14)

Arjuna Uvacha: Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan Purusam sasvatam divyamadi devam ajam vibhum Param Brahma= Supreme Truth; Dhama= Sustenance Pavitram= Pure; Sasvatam= Eternal; Divyam= Transcendental Adi- Devam= The Original Lord; Ajam= Unborn; Vibhum= Greatest

Sri Krishna’ Own statements

1. Aham atma Gudhkesha sarva bhuta

sayasthita Aham adischa madhyam cha bhutanam anta evacha

I am the Supersoul O Arjuna seated in the hearts of all living entities. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings(Bh. Gita 10.20)

Sri Krishna’s own statements

2. Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarva pravartate I am the source of all(material and spiritual) worlds. Everything emanates from Me.

Sri Krishna’s own statements

3. Mattah parataram nanyat Kinchid asti dhananjaya Mayi idam sarvam Sutre manigana eva There is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread. (Bh Gita 7.7)

Bh. Gita’s final recommendation

Manmana bhava mad bhakta Mad yaji mam namskuru Mam evaisyasi satyam te Pratijane preyosi me(Bh.Gita 18. Always think of Me. Become My devotee. Worship Me and pay your homage to Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are my very dear friend.

Mukundamala Prayer

NAASTHAA DHARMEH NA VASUNICHAYEH NEYVA KAAMOPABHOGEH YADHYADHBHAVYAM BHAVATHU BHAGAVAN POORVAKARMAANURUPAM YETAT PRAARTHYAM MAMA BAHUMATHAM JANMA JANMA ANTHAREPI TVAT PAADHAMBORUHA YUGAGATAA NISCCHALAA BHAKTHIRASTU II O Lord ! I Am Not Interested In the acquisition of wealth or In the pleasures of the other worldly life. I am not attracted by sensory pleasures at all. Whatever that will happen as a result of purva Karmaas, let It happen! The only thing that I pray for is the steady and undiminishing devotion At Your Lotus Feet In every one of my births.